Improvement in car-couplings



T. N. PENGELLY.

Car-BOup lin'gs.

Patented Feb. 25,1873.

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Vi/ix UNITED STATES PATENT \OFFICE.

THOMAS N. PENGELLY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,176, dated February25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS N. PENGELLY, of Detroit, in the county ofWayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Oar-Couplings; and I do declare that the following is a true andaccurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon and being a partof this specification, in which Figure 1 is a bottom-perspective view ofmy improved car-couplin g, and Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectionof the same.

Like letters refer to like parts in both figures.

The nature ofvthis invention relates to an improvement in that class ofcar-couplings in which a double harpoon is employed to connect thecoupling of one car to or with that of another, its object being torender the coupling of the cars automatic and certain, while theuncoupling or disconnecting of the cars may be effected without goingbetween them. The invention consists in the peculiar construction of thedevice and the arrangement of the several parts, for the purposes asmore fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents the floor or platform of a car, and B thelongitudinal bumper-sills under each end of the car. Between the sills Bis bolted a stationary draftiron, 0, by bolts a passing up through theflanges which project laterally from its sides. The outer end of thedraft-iron has a concave or bell mouth, to direct the harpoon-couplin gto the passage in its center. the iron terminates in a cylinder or cup,0, and which surrounds an inner guide-pipe, c, which extends from themouth of the draftiron nearly as far as the rear end of the cup 0. Inthe base of the cup is placed an annular rubber cushion or spring, d. Dis a hollow piston, which is inserted in the cup sliding over theguide-pipe 0. At the lower corners of a square flange, which forms therear end of the hollow piston or plunger, is a pair of at the side ofthe car.

The rear end of studs, 6, through which is journaled a horizontal shaft,E, extending across the car-bed the full width thereof. The ends of theshaft are bent to form cranks E, by which the shaft may be partiallyrotated by a person standing To the shaft, between the lugs, is secureda strong cam-latch, F, which, by the weight'of the cranks, is keptagainst the back end of the hollow plunger, its upper edge extending tomid-height of the bore through it.- G is a double-pointed harpooncoupling-bar, with a notch, f, on the under side near each end. Midwayof the length of the bar a bob-weight, g, is secured thereto, thepurpose of which, while the harpoon is in the draft-irons, is to keep itin such position that the notches will always be underneath.

The harpoon projecting one-half its length from the coupling of'one car,when another approaches the first its bell-mouth directs the end of theharpoon into the guide-tube, through which it passes, and also throughthe hollow plunger, pushing back the cam-latch until its notch passesby, when the weight of the cranks E causes the cam-latch to fall forwardinto the notch, and thus prevents the withdrawal of the harpoon untilthe same is released by raising the cranks.

The rubber spring (1 serves as a cushion to ease the strain on theharpoon and cam-latches when the train is started forward suddenly, asthe plunger comes againstthe said spring for that purpose.

What I claim as my invention,-.and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

The construction and arrangement of the hollow draft-iron (J O, hollowpiston D provided with lugs c c, the cushion d, the cranked shaft E, thecam-latch F, and the harpoon G, provided with the notches ff and weightg, as and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS N. PENGELLY.

Y Witnesses:

H. F. EBERTS, H. S. SPRAGUE.

